Next up on the Triple Option Attack is #11 Oregon
Music to listen to: Kuma (live) by the Trey Gunn Band
The Story: The Oregon football program has developed into one of the more underappreciated national powers in the past 15 years.
When Rich Brooks took the Ducks to the Rose Bowl in 1994, it was looked at as an exception, seeing how they hadn’t been to the game since 1957 prior to that. However, with Mike Bellotti’s promotion to head coach after the 1995 season, the Ducks won three more Pac-10 titles, including finished #2 in the nation in 2001.
Bellotti retired from coaching prior to last season and Chip Kelly took over. Despite some off the field issues with some key players, some analysts are looking at the Ducks as the prohibitive favorite in the Pac-10 season and a national title contender.
Last Season: Finished the season with a record of 10-3 to win the outright Pac-10 championship. The losses came against three of the best opponents the team faced all season, contests at Boise State, Stanford and to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.
Offense: The Oregon offense is arguably the most known passing spread offense in the nation. For the Ducks to execute it properly, an elite quarterback is needed.
However, the Ducks dismissed returning senior and Heisman Trophy candidate Jeremiah Masoli from the team this offseason, leaving the position in question. Oregon will either start fifth-year senior Nate Costa or sophomore Darron Thomas in the spot.
The rest of the offense should be solid with the return of sophomore running back LaMichael James. He rushed for over 1,500 yards last season and is expected to do even more this year with all five offensive lineman starters from last year coming back.
The receivers should be fine.
Defense: While the only question on the offense is at quarterback, the defense has more issues to address. The Ducks gave up at least 20 points in eight games last season, including 51 in their lose to Stanford.
There are talented players returning including potential All-Pac 10 performers such as defensive end Kenny Rowe and linebackers Spencer Paysinger and Casey Matthews.
The secondary was injured often last season but does return all four starters from the unit.
The Schedule
9-4-10 NEW MEXICO
9-11-10 at Tennessee
9-18-10 PORTLAND STATE
9-25-10 at Arizona State
10-2-10 STANFORD
10-9-10 at Washington State
10-21-10 UCLA (Thur.)
10-30-10 at Southern California
11-6-10 WASHINGTON
11-13-10 at California
11-26-10 ARIZONA (Fri.)
12-4-10 at Oregon State
The non-conference schedule is weak. That Tennessee game looked more intimidating a few years ago but the Ducks should run all over the Vols.
The road games are of concern for Oregon. The Ducks have to travel to USC, Oregon State and Cal, three of their four main competitors for the Pac-10 crown along with Stanford. As seen last year, Oregon has its struggles on the road so I’m not ready to give those victories to the team just yet.
Most Famous Sports Alum: As much love as I have for Steve Prefontaine, I’m going to pick Phil Knight, the founder of Nike.
Celebrity Alum “Crush:” I’m a big fan of Ann Curry, the news reporter for the Today show on NBC.
Prediction: 9-3
The Ducks will have a nice season but the road games are too daunting to ignore. If Masoli was back on the squad, I would seriously consider Oregon a national title contender. However, the uncertainty of the quarterback position and the questionable defense will hurt Oregon in the end.
Sports Inquirer Top-25 Preseason College Football Poll:
The Sports Inquirer 
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